Wild Grass Straws are Vietnam’s Zero Waste Option

Jun 04, 2019

As concerns about plastic usage rise, one of the items that we must stop using are plastic straws. And it is surely not an easy task. Many people rely on straws or prefer them, for a variety of reasons. Therefore, there is a need to bring an eco-friendly option to replace plastic necessity.

People from all around the world came up with several ideas, more sustainable ideas to make straws from. And one of the innovative ideas came from a young Vietnamese entrepreneur who recently released a straw made of wild grass. It has quickly become a gr

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The young boy’s name is Tran Minh Tien and he is the owner of ?ng Hút C?., a company that makes two kinds of straws out of sedge grass. He came with the idea of using a species of grass called Lepironia Articulata, locally known as co bang, which grows around the Mekong Delta region in southwestern Vietnam, through his desire to do something to help in the battle against plastic.

The sedge grass has a hollow stem, so it is naturally already in straw shape. The straws come in two versions, one being dried and another fresh.

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The fresh version can be stored for up to two weeks, refrigerated and kept in airtight bags. If you want to make the fresh straws last even longer, the website suggests boiling the straws with some salt, letting dry, and then storing in a cool dry place.

The dried version can be stored at room temperature for up to six months.

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As per ?ng Hút C?, both kinds of grass straws are edible and chewing them after meals can actually help clean your teeth and gums. They are also compostable, free of chemicals and preservatives, and are affordable.

They sell them in bundles of 100 with one dry straw costing 1,000 Vietnamese dongs ($0.043), and one fresh straw costing 600 Vietnamese dongs ($0.026). Currently, these grass straws are currently only available for sale in Vietnam.

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Zero Waste Saigon is another Vietnam-based company that sells grass straws made from the Mekong Delta’s wild grass. Their straws are from a different manufacturer than ?ng Hút C?.

It’s really great that options like these wild grass straws are now available!